Rivers
Board Approves Caretaker Committee For Church
The Diocesan Board,
Diocese of Niger Delta North has ratified the appointment of a caretaker committee to administer St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Nkpogwu in the Port Harcourt City Local Government Area.
This was part of the resolution issued from a white paper on the report of a 14-member Diocesan Committee set up to restore peace and order to the church.
The resolution which was signed by the Archbishop of the Province of Niger Delta and Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta North, Most Rev. Ignatius Crosby Kattey and two others also commended the high-level of patience and maturity exhibited by the clergy and all peace-loving members of St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Nkpogwu Deanery and enjoined them to forgive each other.
The Board also condemned the rebellious attitude of some members of the church who had continually harassed other worshippers who did not support their views as well as clergy and their wives posted to serve in St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Nkpogwu Deanery and decided that henceforth any rebellious act would be met with ecclesiastical discipline in accordance with the Scripture.
“Henceforth, any form of intimidation of clergy or harmless worshippers by any person, or group of persons in St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Deanery would be treated as serious offence and also be dealt with accordingly”.
According to the board, since the Anglican Church is part of the one, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, all in St. Matthew’s (Anglican) Church, Nkpogwu Deanery and indeed the Diocese of Niger Delta North who wish to be part of it must respect its age-long customs which we believe are in line with the scriptures, tradition and reason and over the years been tried, tested and trusted.
The Diocesan Board further maintained that henceforth and in line with the previsions of the Constitution and Financial instructions of the Diocese, signatories to all Church Bank Accounts should be the Chairman (Rector or Vicar), Treasurer and Secretary with the chairman as the only principal (‘A’) signatory.
The Diocesan Board further directed that all current lay signatories to all the Bank accounts of St. Matthew’s (Anglican) Church, Nkpogwu Deanery be replaced with new ones from the Caretaker Committee until such a time when election would be held in line with Diocesan regulations.

Newly screened members of Rivers State Judicial Service Commission, Barrister Jackson Tom Orage (right), Mr Tonye Lolomari (middle) and High Chief Ambrose Nwuzi, after their screening by the Rivers State House of Assemby in Port Harcourt, yesterday. Photo: Chris Monyanaga
Soye Itiye
Rivers
Rivers CJ To Sanction Lawyers Who Refuse To Comply With ADR Compliance
The Rivers state Chief Judge, Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI has given an indication to sanction any lawyer who fail to comply with directive of a judge in the state to transferred a case to Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse for Alternatives Dispute Resolution.
Justice AMADI stated this during a brief ceremony held at the chief judge auditorium in port Harcourt Friday held to hand over certificates of operation to two private ADR chambers on Precarious Dispute Resolution Services and Harmony Arbitration and mediation center .
He urged the two private ADR centres to be diligent in the discharge of their duties and warned against compromising the standard of Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR but should observed the regulations set out in collaboration regulation by the state Multi Door Court House.
Earlier in a address, the Director of the State Multi Door Courthouse, VICTOR NWEKE esq, highlighted some of the achievements of the Multi Door Courthouse especially in decongestion of court rooms.
NWEKE while disclosing how the department certified the two private ADR centres called for serious punitive measures be taken against any lawyer who fail to comply with a case referred to Multi Door Court House by a judge or magistrates in the state.
In her acceptance speech on behalf of the two certified private ADR centres, ALICE NIMI commended the State Judiciary and Multi Door Courthouse for the approval and assured that all the rules and regulations spelt out will be followed.
In a related development; the Rivers State Judiciary has assured its readiness to collaborate with Nigerian Securityding Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC in using Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve some of the issues in their office.
The state Chief Judge , Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI made the promise when he received in audience the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE OLOWO and his team who paid him a courtesy visit in his office , Friday where issuees ADR utilization took centre stage.
He used the opportunity to brief his visitors on the hurdles judges faces daily in the court room and the need for the decongestion of the court room , stressing that one judge handle more than three hundred cases but that if lawyers and litigants adopt ADR practice court rooms can be releive of the daily congestions.
The state Chief Judge however urged NSCDC to ensure a wider sensitization of the members of the public on the practice of ADR for a better awareness and knowledge.
Earlier in his speech, the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE-OLOWO said the visit was to seek collaboration on the use of ADR in resolving some issues which he insisted would help decongest the courtrooms.
Our correspondent reports officials of the Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse led by the Director, VICTOR NWEKE led the team of NSCDC on a technical session where information on how to the fully in cooperated into the Multi Door Courthouse and operation of ADR will be emphasized.
Akujobi Amadi